Golf club and method of manufacturing same



K. SMITH April 16, 1935'.

v GOLF CLUB AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed Oct. 19, 1931 INVENTOR,

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES GOLF CLUB AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Kenneth Smith,

Kansas City, Mo.

Application October 19, 1931, Serial No. 569,650

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of manufacturing golf clubs and the primary object of the same is to provide a new article and the method of constructing the same whereby a stronger,.

neater and more durable club is produced.

One of the salient features of this invention lies in the production of a unique shield for the whipping of a, golf club located at the zone of connection between club head and shaft.

A still further object of ,the instant invention is the contemplation of improvements in golf club construction which are directed toward the production of an extremely strong reinforcement where golf shaft and head interconnect, which reinforcement presents a beautiful appearance to lend an appealing touch to the club where heretofore the most unsightly portion thereof was located.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shield for the whipping of a golf club which serves not only to maintain said whipping in position against slipping and longitudinal displacement, but also to maintain the plurality of cord coils constituting said whipping in the relative position occupied when this unique shield was positioned.

Many minor objects of the invention, together with the steps taken while practicing the method, will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing; wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the lower portion of a golf club embodying the invention.-

Fig. 2 is-a cross section through the zone of connection between club'head and shaft, taken along line IIII of Fig. 1. V

Fig. -3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, central section through the zone of connection, taken on line'IIIIII of Fig. 1, and,

I Fig. 4 is a still greater enlarged, fragmentary, detailed view of a, portion of the zone of connection.

In describing the golf club and method of producing the same, reference .will be made to those specific details of construction shown in the drawing. Like reference characters will be used throughout the specification to designate similar parts of the club illustrated.

While the features of the invention might be m embodied in structures of various characters, they are peculiarly adapted for use in connection with the whipping of the well known golf club, two of the essential parts thereof being shaft 6 and head 8. Head 8 projects into a neck l0 and has formed therein an opening H to telescopically receive shaft 6 when the two parts are assembled. In some instances a screw I4 is passed through head 8 and the received end of shaft 6 to secure rigidity and, as shown in Fig. 3, neck Ill tapers to progressively approach substantially the same diameter as shaft 6 as the uppermost end of neck I0 is approached. That portion of shaft 6 and neck I!) on each side respectively of the end of neck I0 is best designated as the zone of connection between head and shaft. It is at this zone that reinforcement is usually required and the common practice is to provide a whipping I6 of hemp cord or similar material which is produced by winding the cord about that part of neck in and shaft 6 forming the said zone of connection. Successive coils of cord I8 constitute the whipping l6, and in view of the inclined annular face which forms a part of the zone of connection, it is desirable to provide some means for precluding movement'on the part of whipping I6 longitudinally of the assembly.

When Whipping I6 is left exposed it is not uncommon for the same to receive a blow with sufiicient force to sever one of coils I8. This destructive action causes a loosening of whipping l6 and in most instances a displacement. of the same to such an extent that an entire new whipping must be applied.

To fulfill one of the very important features of this invention, there is provided a shield 20, preferably formed of celluloid or similar substance having a nitrocellulose base. This shield 20 is molded over whipping l6 after it is in a semi-plastic condition and in sheet form, such condition being attained. through the medium of suitable solvents such as acetone and amylacetate.

The method of handling and applying shield 20 will hereinafter be made clear through the use of the term celluloidor any other material susceptible of description by Websters definition of celluloid which is "a substance composed essentially of soluble gun cotton and camphor--. In practice it has been found that a solution consisting of fifty percent acetone and fifty percent amylacetate is the best solvent for use when treating the celluloid shield 20 immediately prior to molding the same in position over the zone of connection. sheet of celluloid which isto form shield 20 is immersed in the aforementioned solvent of acetone and amylacetate until the sheet becomes gelatinous without losing its formation as a sheet. The celluloid is next hung to allow surplus sol- In carrying out the method, the

vent to flow therefrom, after which, and immediately prior to molding the celluloid about whipping it, the sheet is again dipped in the solvent for a very short time. After so treating the sheet of celluloid it is wrapped about whipping it and caused to overlap itself. The sheet is wide enough to project beyond whipping l5 and over that portion of shaft 6 and neck M3 immediately adjacent the end coils E8 of whipping H5. The semi-plastic condition of the sheet riow forming shield 20 and the presence of the solvent causes a fusing together at the overlapped portions of the sheet and a perfect molding to form shield 20. The pressure applied is sufficient to force a part of the shield material into the interstices 22 formed between the individual coils E8 of whipping l6. Corrugations or inwardly extending projections 24 enter between coils l8 and adhesively affix themselves securely to the whipping Hi. This adhesive fixation is likewise set up at the extended portions 25 and 28 respectively which bond themselves securely to neck l0 and shaft 6 respectively.

Applying shield 20 is done by hand. The graceful curve which is desired at this zone is preserved and after the celluloid shield 20 returns to its original hardness, rigidity is set up to the extent that the club at this point is securely bonded together by shield 20 which completely en cases whipping I6, maintains the individual coils l8 of whipping I6 in their original relative spaced relation, precludes longitudinal movement because of the adherence of extensions 26 and 28 to neck l0 and shaft 6 respectively. The hemp cord forming whipping l6 produces 2. padding effect beneath celluloid shield 20 of suflicient resiliency to overcome blows which might be received by shield 20 when the club is in use. The relation between shield 20 and whipping l6 likewise precludes destruction of shields 20 in the event the same is subjected to blows.

After shield 20 is molded and adhesively affixed as just set down, same is allowed to thoroughly set, after which a dressing down may take place either through the use of a fine file or suitable abrasive such as sand or emery paper. Obviously, celluloid of any suitable color might be employed to further enhance the appearance of the assembly and the length of shield 20 might be varied as it becomes necessary to vary the amount of whipping l6.

Manifestly, in practicing this invention it is unnecessary to provide any other adhesive material to maintain wrapping I6 in position and while the corrugations or projections 24 are shown in Fig. 4 to enter interstices 22 by a short distance, in practice it will be found that such projections will extend entirely to the surface of women neck I0 or shaft 6 as the case might be to even further bind together the parts. The ends of shield 20 at projections 26 and 28 maybe rounded off in extremely neat fashion whereby to avoid any abrupt offsets or ridges.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The steps in the method of making a golf club which comprises applying a whipping to the zone of connection between club head and shaft with the coils thereof in spaced relation; immersing a sheet of hardened plastic material in suitable solvent to render vthe same gelatinous without losing its form as a sheet; wrapping the so treated sheet of plastic material about the said whipping with two marginal edges thereof in overlapped relation; and then applying pressure to said material to force portions of the same into a portion of the space between the coils of the whipping, with a remaining portion of the sheet forming a hard protective layer of substantial thickness over the whipping, whereby the said sheet of plastic material is fused together along the overlapped marginal edges and the inner whipping-engaging face partially circumscribes each coil of the whipping.

2. The steps in the method of making a golf club which comprises applying a fibrous, resilient whipping to the zone of connection between club head and shaft; immersing a sheet of nitrocel lulose base material in a solvent bath to render the same plastic; deforming the so treated sheet by wrapping the same about the said whipping with the marginal edges thereof in overlapped relation; applying pressure to said sheet to force portions of the same between the coils of the whipping with a remaining portion therof forming a protective layer of substantial thickness over the whipping and allowing the material to harden.

3. A golf club comprising a telescopically joined head and shaft, a whipping along the zone of connection between the head and shaft comprising a fibrous, resilient, spirally wound cord, and a relatively hard shield bonded to said whipping with portions thereof extending into the spaces between the coils of the whipping and being bonded thereto but spaced a distance from the underlying surface of head and shaft whereby the shield is maintained spaced therefrom with the whipping forming a cushion under the shield.

4. A golf club as set forth in claim 3, wherein the ends of the shield are extended beyond the ends of the whipping and said ends of the shield are intimately bonded respectively to the head and shaft.

- KENNETH SMITH. 

